Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara questioned Pakistan’s top-order tactics while facing India’s gun-fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday. Pakistan suffered a crushing loss of 61 runs after they were bowled out for 114 while chasing an above-par total of 176.

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub played an attacking shot while advancing the track against Jasprit Bumrah on the first ball of the second over but had the rub on the green on his side as he top-edged it for a six. On the next ball, Bumrah bowled a scorching inswinging yorker, which trapped Ayub in front of the stumps, and the left-hander had no answer.

“I wouldn’t be running at Bumrah. I am not sure he’s the right guy to run at. There’s other ways you can skin a cat but that is definitely the wrong way to take Bumrah down. Be running at him. He has got a gun slower ball and swings it both ways late. If you are running at him, you are making life very difficult for yourself,” Bopara said on the ‘Beard Before Wicket’ podcast.

Bopara said Pakistan should have tried to play good shots against Jasprit Bumrah. On the last ball of the second over, Bumrah also accounted for Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who played across the line but ballooned the ball to mid-on fielder, Hardik Pandya.

“If you have watched Bumrah enough, you know he swing the ball late to lefties. He is not easy to pick as he bowls in front of his face. He has got such good wrists. So him, you just try and play normal good shots. Salman Agha also goes across the line to him. You’ve already got 12 of his over. You don’t have to slug him to show everybody that you can smack him,” he said.

India will next take on the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.